THE EPISTLES OF ZEPHYRINUS(1)

THE FIRST EPISTLE

TO ALL THE BISHOPS OF SICILY

OF THE FINAL DECISION OF THE TRIALS OF BISHOPS, AND GRAVER ECCLESIASTICAL
CASES IN THE SEAT OF THE APOSTLES

ZEPHYRINUS, archbishop of the city of Rome, to all the bishops settled in
Sicily, in the Lord, greeting.

We ought to be mindful of the grace of God to us, which in His own merciful
regard has raised us for this purpose to the summit of priestly honour, that,
abiding by His commandments, and appointed in a certain supervision of His
priests, we may prohibit things unlawful, and teach those that are to be followed.
As night does not extinguish the stars of heaven, so the unrighteousness of
the world does not blind the minds of the faithful that hold by the sure support
of Scripture. Therefore we ought to consider well and attend carefully to the
Scriptures, and the divine precepts which are contained in these Scriptures,
in order that we may show ourselves not transgressors, but fulfillers of the
law of God.

Now patriarchs
and primates, in investigating the case of an accused bishop, should not
pronounce a final
decision until, supported by the authority of
the apostles, they find that the person either confesses himself guilty, or
is proved so by witnesses trustworthy and regularly examined, who should not
be fewer in number than were those disciples whom the Lord directed to be chosen
for the help of the apostles--that is, seventy-two. Detractors also, who are
to be rooted out by divine authority, and the advisers of enemies (auctores
inimicorum), we do not admit in the indictment of bishops or in evidence against
them; nor should any one of superior rank be indicted or condemned on the accusations
of inferiors. Nor in a doubtful case should a decisive judgment be pronounced;
nor should any trial be held valid unless it has been conducted according to
order. No one, moreover, should be judged in his absence, because both divine
and human laws forbid that. The accusers of those persons should also be free
of all suspicion, because the Lord has chosen that His pillars should stand
firm, and not be shaken by any one who will. For a sentence should not bind
any of them if it is not given by their proper judge, because even the laws
of the world ordain that that be done. For any accused bishop may, if it be
necessary, choose twelve judges by whom his case may be justly judged. Nor
should he be heard or excommunicated or judged until these be chosen by him;
and on his being regularly summoned at first to a council of his own bishops,
his case should be justly heard by them, and investigated on sound principles.
The end of his case, however, should be remitted to the seat of the apostles,
that it may be finally decided there. Nor should it be finished, as has been
decreed of old by the apostles or their successors, until it is sustained by
its authority. To it also all, and especially the oppressed, should appeal
and have recourse as to a mother, that they may be nourished by her breasts,
defended by her authority, and relieved of their oppressions, because "a
mother cannot," and should not, "forget her son."(2) For the
trials of bishops and graver ecclesiastical cases, as the apostles and their
holy successors have decreed, are to be finally decided along with other bishops(3)
by the seat of the apostles, and by no other; because, although they may be
transferred to other bishops, it was yet to the blessed Apostle Peter these
terms were addressed: "Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."(4)
And the other privileges which have been granted to this holy seat alone are
found embodied both in the constitutions of the apostles(1) and their successors,
and in very many others in harmony with these. For the apostles have prefixed
seventy(2) decrees, together with very many other bishops, and have appointed
them to be kept. For to judge rashly of the secrets of another's heart is sin;
and it is unjust to reprove him on suspicion whose works seem not other than
good, since God alone is Judge of those things which are unknown to men. He,
however, "knoweth the secrets of the heart,"(3) and not another.
For unjust judgments are to be guarded against by all, especially however by
the servants of God. "And the servant of the Lord must not strive,"(4)
nor harm any one. For bishops are to he borne by laity and clergy, and masters
by servants, in order that, under the exercise of endurance, things temporal
may be maintained, and things eternal hoped for. For that increases the worth
of virtue, which does not violate the purpose of religion. You should be earnestly
intent that none of your brothers be grievously injured or undone. Therefore
you ought to succour the oppressed, and deliver them from the hand of their
persecutors, in order that with the blessed Job you may say: "The blessing
of him that was ready to perish will come upon me, and I consoled the widow's
heart. I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with a robe and a diadem,
my judgment. I was eye to the blind, and foot to the lame. I was a father to
the poor, and the cause which I knew not I searched out most carefully. I brake
the grinders of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth;"(5)
and so forth. You, therefore, who have been placed in eminence by God, ought
with all your power to check and repel those who prepare snares for brethren,
or raise seditions and offences against them. For it is easy by word to deceive
man, not however God. Therefore you ought to keep these off, and be on your
guard against them, until such darkness is done away utterly, and the morning
star shines upon them, and gladness arises, most holy brethren. Given on the
20th September, in the consulship of the most illustrious Saturninus and Gallicanus.(6)

THE SECOND EPISTLE.

TO THE BISHOPS OF THE PROVINCE OF EGYPT.

ZEPHYRINUS, archbishop of the city of Rome, to the most beloved brethren who
serve the Lord in Egypt.

So great trust have we received from the Lord, the Founder of this holy seat
and of the apostolic church, and from the blessed Peter, chief of the apostles,
that we may labour with unwearied affection(1) for the universal Church which
has been redeemed by the blood of Christ, and aid all who serve the Lord, and
give help to all who live piously by apostolic authority. All who will live(2)
piously in Christ must needs endure reproaches from the impious and aliens,
and be despised as fools and madmen, that they may be made better and purer
who lose the good things of time that they may gain those of eternity. But
the contempt and ridicule of those who afflict and scorn them will be cast
back upon themselves, when their abundance shall change to want, and their
pride to confusion.

I. On the Spoliation or Expulsion of certain Bishops.

It has
been reported at the seat of the apostles by your delegates,(3) that certain
of our brethren,
bishops
to wit, are being expelled from their churches
and seats, and deprived of their goods, and summoned, thus destitute and spoiled,
to trial; a thing which is void of all reason, since the constitutions of the
apostles and their successors, and the statutes of emperors, and the regulations
of laws, prohibit it, and the authority of the seat of the apostles forbids
it to be done. It has been ordained, indeed, in the ancient statutes, that
bishops who have been ejected and spoiled of their property should recover
their churches, and, in the first place, have all their property restored to
them; and then, in the second place, that if any one may desire to accuse them
justly, he should do so at the like risk; that the judges should be discreet,
the bishops right-minded and harmonious in the Church, where they should be
witnesses for ever one who seemed to be oppressed; and that they should not
answer till all that belonged to them was restored to them, and to their churches
by law without detriment. Nor is it strange, brethren, if they persecute you,
when they persecuted even to death your Head, Christ our Lord. Yet even persecutions
are to be endured patiently, that ye may be known to be His disciples, for
whom also ye suffer. Whence, too, he says Himself, "Blessed are they which
are persecuted for righteousness' sake." (1) Sustained by these testimonies,
we ought not greatly to fear the reproach of men, nor be overcome by their
up-braidings, since the Lord gives us this command by isaiah the prophet, saying, "Hearken
unto me, ye that know righteousness, my people, in whose heart is my law; fear
ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings;" (2)
considering what is written in the Psalm, "Shall not God search this out?
for He knoweth the secrets of the heart, (3) and the thoughts of such men,
that they are vanity," (4) "They spoke vanity every one with his
neighbour: with deceitful lips in their heart, and with an evil heart they
spoke. But the Lord shall cut off all deceitful lips, and the tongue that speaketh
proud things; who have said, Our lips are our own; who is Lord over us?" (5)
For if they kept these things in memory, they would by no means break forth
into so great wickedness. For they do not this by laudable and paternal instruction
(probabili et paterna doctrina), but that they may wreak their vengeful feeling
against the servants of God. For it is written, "The way of a fool is
right in his eyes;" (6) and, "There are ways which seem right unto
a man, but the end thereof leads to death." (7) Now we who suffer these
things ought to leave them to the judgment of God, who will render to every
man according to his works; (8) who also has thundered through His servants,
saying, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." (9) Assist ye, therefore,
one another in good faith, and by deed and with a hearty will; nor let any
one remove his hand from the help of a brother, since "by this," saith
the Lord, "shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love
one to another." (10) Whence, too, He speaks by the prophet, saying, "Behold
how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (11)
In a spiritual dwelling, I interpret it, and in a concord which is in God,
and in the unity of the faith which distinguishes this pleasant dwelling according
to truth, which indeed was more beauteously illustrated in Aaron and the priests
(12) clothed with honour, as ointment upon the head, nurturing the highest
understanding and leading even to the end of wisdom. For in this dwelling the
Lord has promised blessing and eternal life. Apprehending, therefore, the importance
of this utterance of the prophet, we have spoken this present brotherly word
for love's sake, and by no means seeking, or meaning to seek, our own things.
For it is not good to repay detraction with detraction, or according to the
common proverb to cast out a beam with a beam (excutere palum palo). Be it
far from us. Such manners are not ours. May the Godhead indeed forbid it. By
the just judgment of God, power is given sometimes to sinners to persecute
His saints, in order that they who are aided and borne on by the Spirit of
God may become more glorious through the discipline of sufferings. But to those
very persons who persecute, and reproach, and injure them, there will doubtless
be woe. Woe, woe to those who injure the servants of God; for injury done to
them concerns Him whose service they discharge, and whose function they execute.
But we pray that a door of enclosure be placed upon their mouths, as we desire
that no one perish or be defiled by their lips, and that they think or publish
with their mouth no hurtful word. Whence also the Lord speaks by the prophet, "I
said I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue." (13)
May the Lord Almighty, and His only-begotten Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ,
give you this incitement, that with all means in your power you aid all the
brethren under whatsoever tribulations they labour, and esteem, as is meet,
their sufferings your own. Afford them the utmost assistance by word and deed,
that ye may be found His true disciples, who enjoined all to love the brethren
as themselves.

II. On the Ordination of Presbyters and Deacons.

Ordinations
of presbyters and Levites, moreover, solemnly perform on a suitable occasion,
and in the
presence of
many witnesses; and to this duty advance tried
and learned men, that ye may be greatly gladdened by their fellowship and help.
Place the confidence of your hearts without ceasing on the goodness of God,
and declare these and the other divine words to succeeding generations: "For
this is our God for ever and ever, and He will guide us to eternity." (1)
Given on the 7th November, in the consulship of the most illustrious Saturninus
and Gallicanus, (2)